Hanford edges Mead for crown

Young Panther boys topped by seven

April 20, 2014By Greg Lee

PASCO – The Mead boys track team, the winningest team in the history of the Pasco Invite, came within a handful of points from winning its 13th championship.

Hanford, a 3A team from Richland, used a victory in the discus and a second in the 200 meters to vault past Mead at the 53rd annual Invite. Hanford finished with 50 points to Mead’s 43 at Edgar Brown Stadium’s John Crawford Track.

It was Hanford’s first Pasco title.

For Mead coach John Mires, it was just another step in the maturation of his team.

“With such a young team, this is a pretty remarkable deal,” Mires said. “It’s a good testament to the young kids at this point in the season. It’s always nice to be in the hunt at this meet because it gives you an idea of where you’re at on a state level.”

Leading the way for Mead on a day that started with not a hint of wind and lots of sunshine to a meet that ended with strong wind was senior pole vaulter Braden Barranco.

Barranco, a transfer from Newport, climbed his pole 14 feet, 6 inches to win. It was 6 inches shy of his season and career best. He took three attempts at 15-0, just barely unseating the bar on his second attempt.

“I’m glad I won but not satisfied with the height,” Barranco said. “I was hoping for a (personal best) today, but you’re always hoping for it.

It was a splendid day for Greater Spokane League and North Idaho athletes.

Boys

Carlos Riojas of Mt. Spokane, the shortest thrower at 5-foot-9½ among the medal winners, heaved the javelin a personal-best 190-9.

He got the mark on his next-to-last throw, eclipsing Mead’s Luke Hilmes (186-3).

“My arm was hurting at the beginning after my first throw,” Riojas said.

Riojas wasn’t noticing any pain afterward, though.

Tanner Anderson of North Central easily defended his title in the 3,200 (9:05.86). Scott Kopczynski of East Valley was a distant second (9:24.19).

The breeze was mild for the first half of the race but the second half had Anderson thinking he was running in concrete.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever been in a more windy race,” Anderson said. “It felt like we were hitting a brick wall the final 110 meters. Overall, it was a good day.”